Cosmetic sponge

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic applicator includes a sponge and a removable cap. The sponge has an upper portion and a lower portion and the cap fits over the upper portion. The cap may be impermeable in some examples to avoid absorbing cosmetic product to be applied, as a sponge alone would. The cap may comprise a closed cell material, silicone, and/or a gel material.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/500,388, filed May 2, 2017, titled COSMETIC SPONGE, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNOLOGY FIELD

The present application relates generally to a cosmetic applicator, and in particular, to a sponge for applying a cosmetic product.

BACKGROUND

There are numerous applicators for liquid and powder cosmetic products available, such as sponges and puffs. Such sponges and puffs are often not designed or shaped for ease of use, but to fit within a container holding a liquid or powder product, such as a compact. Although different shaped sponges exist, there is a continuing need for more and different sponge applicators.

SUMMARY

According to one example of the present disclosure, a cosmetic applicator comprises a sponge including an upper portion and a lower portion, and a removable cap configured to fit over the upper portion.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge are separated by a groove.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the groove extends circumferentially around the sponge.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap includes a lip extending inward from a bottom edge of the cap, the lip configured to be received in the groove when the cap is disposed on the sponge.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the sponge is formed from a single piece of material.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge have different densities.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge have different porosities.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the sponge is polyurethane.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap is a closed-cell material.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap is silicone.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap is made of a gel material.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the upper portion of the sponge and the cap are conical in shape, and the lower portion of the sponge is spherical in shape.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the lower portion of the sponge is weighted such that the cosmetic applicator remains upright, with an apex of the cap pointing upward, when the applicator is placed on a horizontal surface.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap may be impermeable or of low permeability to avoid the absorption of cosmetic product thereto, reducing the quantity used and making cleaning easier.

According to another example, a cosmetic applicator comprises a single piece sponge including an upper portion and a lower portion separated by a groove, and a removable cap configured to fit over the upper portion, the cap having an inwardly extending lip configured to fit into the groove when the cap is disposed over the upper portion of the sponge.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the sponge is polyurethane.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap is a closed-cell material.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap is silicone.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap is made of a gel material.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap may be impermeable or of low permeability to avoid the absorption of cosmetic product thereto, reducing the quantity used and making cleaning easier.

According to another example, a cosmetic applicator comprises a sponge including an upper portion and a lower portion separated by a circumferential groove, the upper and lower portions having different densities and/or porosities, and a removable cap configured to fit over only the upper portion.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap includes a lip extending inward from a bottom edge of the cap, the lip configured to be received in the groove when the cap is disposed on the sponge.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge are made of the same material.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap is silicone.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap is made of a gel material.

Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the cap may be impermeable or of low permeability to avoid the absorption of cosmetic product thereto, reducing the quantity used and making cleaning easier.

The above summary of some example embodiments is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. The Figures, and Detailed Description, which follow, more particularly exemplify these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention are best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific instrumentalities disclosed. Included in the drawings are the following Figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative cosmetic sponge;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the illustrative cosmetic sponge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cosmetic sponge of FIG. 1 with the cap removed;

FIG. 4 is a tilted view of the cosmetic sponge of FIG. 3, showing the lower surfaces of the cap and sponge; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description should be read with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views. The description and drawings show several embodiments which are meant to be illustrative in nature.

For convenience, the present disclosure may be described using relative terms including, for example, left, right, top, bottom, front, back, upper, lower, up, and down, as well as others. It is to be understood that these terms are merely used for illustrative purposes and are not meant to be limiting in any manner.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cosmetic applicator 100 according to embodiments disclosed herein. The cosmetic applicator 100 includes a removable and replaceable cap 110 and sponge 150. The overall shape of the cosmetic applicator 100 may be teardrop shaped, with a rounded conical upper portion defined by the cap 110 and a semi-spherical lower portion defined by the sponge 150. FIG. 2 illustrates proportions of the cap 110 relative to the entire applicator 100. In the illustrated example, the cap 110 extends from an apex 115 downward over more than half of the length of the sponge 150, where the length extends between the apex 115 and the bottom 185 of the sponge 150. However, the length of the cap 110 may vary such that the ratio of the covered portion to uncovered portion of the sponge varies. The cosmetic applicator 100 may have a height of 0.5 inch to 4.0 inches, and a width of 0.25 inches to 3 inches. In one example, the applicator 100 has a height of 2.5 inches and a width of 1.7 inches. In some examples, the cap 110 may extend less than half the length of the sponge 150. In other examples, the cap 110 may extend over the entire surface of the sponge 150. An indentation 105 extending circumferentially around the applicator 100 denotes the separation between the cap 110 and the sponge 150.

FIG. 3 shows the cap 110 removed from the sponge 150. The sponge 150 has a lower portion 155 and an upper portion 160, separated by a groove 165 extending circumferentially around the sponge. The groove 165 extends partially inward toward the center of the sponge 150, leaving a central portion 170 connecting the lower portion 155 to the upper portion 160. The lower edge 127 of the cap 110 and/or the upper edge 157 of the lower portion 155 of the sponge 150 may be chamfered, which may aid the user in removing the cap 110 from the sponge 150. In the illustrated example, the cap 110 covers only the upper portion 160 of the sponge, leaving the entire lower portion 155 exposed.

The sponge 150 may be a single piece structure made of a single material such that the upper portion 160, central portion 170, and lower portion 155 have identical physical properties. The sponge 150 may be made of any foamed plastic or rubber polymer that achieves a porous, open cell, sponge that absorbs water. In some examples, the material for the sponge 150 may include natural rubber, natural sponge, or synthetic materials such as nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), NBR/SBR blends, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), neoprene, polyurethane (PU), polypropylene (PP), porous urethane sponge such as Rubicell from TOYO POLYMER CO., LTD., or any other material resulting in a porous sponge. The sponge 150 may be latex-free.

In other examples, one or more of the upper portion 160, central portion 170, and lower portion 155 may be made of different materials or the same material having different properties such as density, porosity, etc. For example, the lower portion 155 may be made of a firmer material to provide a firm gripping surface while the upper portion 160 may be made of a softer material to provide a soft surface for applying products to the skin, especially the face. In other examples, the upper portion 160 may have smaller pores than the lower portion 155, or the upper portion 160 may have larger pores than the lower portion 155. In some examples, the entire sponge 150 may be made of polyurethane, but the density of polyurethane may be different for the different portions. The upper portion 160 may have a density lower than the density of the lower portion 155 and/or central portion 170. In examples where the upper portion 160 and lower portion 155 are made of different materials, the upper and lower portions 160, 155 may be attached by adhesive, thermal joining, or any other joining process that achieves a stable and secure attachment. In some examples, the sponge 150, especially the upper portion 160, may be covered with a flocked fabric such as nylon flocking, velour flocking, or a felt coating. In some examples, an anti-bacterial agent and/or an anti-hardening agent may be added to the material of the sponge.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cap 110 may have a flexible bottom lip 120 extending circumferentially inward from the lower edge 127 of the cap 110. The cap 110 is hollow with an interior cavity 130 shaped to receive the upper portion 160 of the sponge 150. When the cap 110 is placed over the upper portion 160 of the sponge 150, the bottom lip 120 stretches to fit over the upper portion 160 and then extends into the groove 165 in the sponge 150. The bottom lip 120 may extend partially into the groove 165, or the width of the bottom lip 120 may be similar to the width of the groove 165 such that the bottom lip 120 extends fully into the groove 165. In some examples, the bottom lip 120 may be thinner than the remainder of the cap 110. In other examples, the entire cap 110 may have the same thickness.

The lower edge 167 of the upper portion 160 of the sponge 150 has a diameter d that may be smaller than the diameter D of the upper edge 157 of the lower portion 155 of the sponge 150. In use, the lower portion 155 may be gripped and the upper portion 160 may be used to apply cosmetic product. In some examples, the lower portion 155 may have protrusions, concave regions, or indentations shaped to receive the user's thumb and fingers (not shown) to aid the user in gripping the applicator 100. When the cap 110 is disposed on the sponge 150, the outer diameter of the lower edge 127 of the cap 110 and the diameter of the upper edge 157 of the lower portion 155 of the sponge 150 may be substantially the same, providing a uniform outer appearance, as shown in FIG. 2.

In some examples, the lower portion 155 of the sponge may be weighted so the applicator 100 remains upright, with the apex 115 pointing upward, when the applicator 100 is placed on a horizontal surface. The lower portion 155 of the sponge may be made of a material having a higher density and/or weight than the upper portion 160 to provide the desired weight. In other examples, the lower portion 155 may have an added weight inserted within it.

The cosmetic applicator 100, including both the cap 110 and sponge 150 may be intended to be reusable and washable. The cap 110 may provide a smooth surface that may be used for product application. The combination of sponge upper portion 160 and cap 110 provide two different application surfaces, which may have different properties such as different textures and/or different temperatures. In some examples, the cap 110 is non-porous, providing an extremely smooth surface that does not retain product, as opposed to the porous sponge 150, which may provide a textured surface. A non-porous cap 110 also allows for the application of product without absorbing product into the sponge 150. This may aid in application of small amounts of product without loss of any product into the sponge 150. The cap 110 also serves to cover and protect the upper portion 160 of the sponge.

In some examples, the entire cap 110 is made of a single piece of a single material. The thickness of the bottom lip 120 and remainder of the cap 110 may be the same or the bottom lip 120 may be thinner. In other examples, the bottom lip 120 may be made of a different material from the remainder of the cap 110. The cap 110 may be made of a flexible and/or soft material, such as soft plastic, silicone, rubber, or a gel material. In one example, the cap 110 may be made of a closed cell material. In other examples, the cap 110 may be made of a hard material such as a hard plastic, metal, stone, glass, ceramic, etc. The bottom lip 120 is made of a flexible material such as flexible plastic, silicone, rubber, etc., attached to the hard material of the remainder of the cap 110 in order to fit over the upper portion 160 of the sponge. In further examples, the cap 110 may be made from a thermal storage material that is capable of retaining heat or cold for application to a body. The thermal storage material may comprise, for example, a metal, ceramic, glass, and/or other material with a relatively high thermal storage capacity and/or thermal conductivity. When used to apply a cosmetic product to the body, the thermal storage material of the applicator may impart a cooling or warming treatment, therapy, or sensation to the body, thereby accentuating the application of the cosmetic product.

Additionally, any suitable gel technology may be employed for the cap 110. The gel is generally a polymer composition which exhibits both liquid and solid characteristics, depending upon the particular composition, that is, the gel can range from a semi-liquid to a semi-solid. In some aspects, the gel composition may contain a three-dimensional network of cross-linked molecular chains (gels), or it may merely behave as if it contained such a network (gelloids). In some instances, the gel may be encased by a coating, membrane, or shell, or be capable of standing alone or combinations of such materials. When a coating, membrane, or shell is used, it can be a polymeric or other material capable of containing even semi-liquid gels, and providing resilient structure for the gel which permits a desired amount of deformation, while enough resiliency to return to its original shape. The gel may also include phase change materials which are useful in conveying the cooling sensation, since phase change materials, by definition absorb heat energy when changing phases. The gel of embodiments described in this document may be any liquid-extended polymer or a gelatinous composition having a molecular weight and hardness characteristics that allow the gel to deform yet have a resilience that allows it to rebound into its original shape quickly, such as within one second or less, when the load is removed. Examples of gels used in aspects of the invention include, without limitation, oil-extended triblock copolymer compositions such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,787, U.S. Pat. No. 3,676,387, U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,999, U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,240, U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,540, U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,913, U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,607, U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,428, U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,538, U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,821, U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,982, U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,183, U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,193, U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,270, U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,736, U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,036, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,450; and thermoplastic elastomer gelatinous compositions such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,284, U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,213, U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,468, U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,334, U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,254, U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,646, U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,273, U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,890, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,708. Each of the above references is hereby incorporated by reference.

The gel can comprise any gel that is stable, nontoxic, and generally known to provide a cushioning effect while maintaining a degree of structural stability and support. Polyurethane gels are particularly useful. Further, other gels that are resistant to hardening over time, have limited expandability, and are resistant to substance degradation (e.g., from migration of volatile agents, such as plasticizers) could also be useful as the gel in the present invention.

Examples of polyurethane gels capable of use according to the invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,216, United States Published Patent Application No. 2004/0058163 (application Ser. No. 10/618,558) and U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2004/0102573 (application Ser. No. 10/656,778), which are incorporated herein by reference.

Examples of other types of gels useful according to the invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,296, U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,642, and U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2007/0061978 (application Ser. No. 11/365,473),which are incorporated herein by reference.

Any gel technology or combinations of such technologies may be used. In some embodiments, a gel material such as those available from Technogel are used. The Technogel materials are moldable, and deformable upon contact. These materials also convey a sensation of coolness, without requiring refrigeration or external cooling. Many suitable gel materials, including the Technogel material, provide a sensation of coolness when touched to the skin, and to the extent it eventually heats up during contact, returns to a cooling state when returned to ambient temperature. In the past, such materials have generally not been incorporated into cosmetics products, packaging, or applicators.

Unlike other materials such as metal, plastic, and even silicone, which have been used in cosmetics applicators previously, the gel material wipes product onto the skin much like a fingertip. The other materials tend to push product around rather than distribute it evenly. When product is applied to the skin using the gel material, the result is a smooth, even finish on the skin. The concept is difficult to quantify, but the softness, deformability, and resiliency of the gel more closely resemble the feeling, texture, resiliency, and other characteristics of a human finger. Thus making the applicator feel like an extension of your hand, rather than an outside object, and allowing for a more precise, controlled application of product. The gel material can be configured to have any desired surface texture.

In some embodiments, the gel material, and its outer membrane if present, is designed to allow for proper application of product, but substantially will not absorb or adsorb the product to allow the gel applicator to be wiped, washed, or otherwise cleaned of excess product to be ready for a subsequent use. The lack of absorption or adsorption means less wasted product and the ability to clean the applicator means less chance for bacterial growth or contamination of fresh product with old product left. For example, sponge, cloth, or flocked applicators absorb relatively large amounts of product in their pores and between fibers resulting in staining of the applicator and retention of product within the applicator, which can reduce the ability of the applicator to effectively apply product, harbor bacteria, contaminate freshly applied product with old (possibly degraded) product, or simply require a new applicator before each use.

Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments of the invention and that such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the appended claims be construed to cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cosmetic applicator comprising: a sponge including an upper portion and a lower portion; and a removable cap configured to fit over the upper portion.
 2. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge are separated by a groove.
 3. The cosmetic applicator of claim 2, wherein the groove extends circumferentially around the sponge.
 4. The cosmetic applicator of claim 2, wherein the cap includes a lip extending inward from a bottom edge of the cap, the lip configured to be received in the groove when the cap is disposed on the sponge.
 5. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the sponge is formed from a single piece of material.
 6. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge have different densities.
 7. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge have different porosities.
 8. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the sponge comprises polyurethane.
 9. The cosmetic applicator claim 1, wherein the cap is a closed-cell material.
 10. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the cap is silicone.
 11. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a gel material.
 12. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the sponge and the cap are conical in shape, and the lower portion of the sponge is spherical in shape.
 13. The cosmetic applicator of claim 12, wherein the lower portion of the sponge is weighted such that the cosmetic applicator remains upright, with an apex of the cap pointing upward, when the cosmetic applicator is placed on a horizontal surface.
 14. A cosmetic applicator comprising: a single piece sponge including an upper portion and a lower portion separated by a groove; and a removable cap configured to fit over the upper portion, the cap having an inwardly extending lip configured to fit into the groove when the cap is disposed over the upper portion of the sponge.
 15. The cosmetic applicator of claim 14, wherein the sponge is polyurethane.
 16. The cosmetic applicator of claim 14, wherein the cap is a closed-cell material.
 17. The cosmetic applicator of claim 14, wherein the cap comprises a gel material.
 18. A cosmetic applicator comprising: a sponge including an upper portion and a lower portion separated by a circumferential groove, the upper and lower portions having different densities and/or porosities; and a removable cap configured to fit over only the upper portion.
 19. The cosmetic applicator of claim 18, wherein the cap includes a lip extending inward from a bottom edge of the cap, the lip configured to be received in the groove when the cap is disposed on the sponge.
 20. The cosmetic applicator of claim 18, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of the sponge are made of the same material. 